Curt

It is talent. It’s a major factor. Lack of talent can’t be hand waived away as a non factor just because they won a few games with the current roster. Of course they can play better, but no team plays at the top of its game for 82 games. That’s not realistic. There are ups and downs. Almost any team in the league can go on a nice streak when they are playing near their best and/or getting a bit lucky. The difference is that the most talented teams in the league can still get somewhat decent results even when not playing their best. Talent helps you win some games even when you are off your games as a team. The lows aren’t as low. The Sabres are not among the more talented teams in the league. When they aren’t playing well, they are going to lose most of the time. Compare to Tampa for example. When Tampa isn’t playing well, they still win about half their games, while Buffalo will sometimes lose 6 out of 7 when not playing well. That’s because of the difference in talent.

I think they will be more around 10-12th, which would sadly be a decent improvement.

What’s becoming obvious to me is that there is a portion of this fan base that can not take losing any longer. I can’t blame them, but they are also overreacting to what is likely a fairly normal period of poor play that average teams often go through. I don’t think it’s proof of an impending downward spiral into oblivion. It’s just the normal ups and downs of a very average NHL roster. They just aren’t a great team.

Yup, Eichel is the problem because he is really good at hockey, but not good enough to compensate for the holes in the roster. It’s obvious. So Vesey isn’t the problem, but Eichel is? I’m not buying that one.

If LA added a good prospect or pick, and management had a decent idea that Toffoli may like being in Buffalo, I could get on board. Toffoli has been a 20-25 goal scorer who plays a good 2-way game. There aren’t a lot of those available.

Yeah, I understand why you might feel that way, but 2-3 weeks/6-8 games ago you were one of those saying that this was the start of something great and that Krueger had changed things. What was your expectation for the team before the season in terms of points? What is your expectation now? I think we need to be realistic about this stuff. A team that has Sobotka/Vesey playing in the top-6, Risto-McCabe playing 24 mins per night and Hutton/Ullmark in goal is going to have a rough time making the playoffs. Even if they do have a nice start to the season, those are not players that you should be leaning on in key positions over the course of a whole season. This is a team that is improved over last season but not drastically improved.

Wow. What a difference 2-3 weeks make for public opinion. This fan base is just blowing whichever way the wind is going, moment but moment. And all this about a team that still has a winning record. Things even out over the course of a full season. They are better than last season, but not a top tier team. Not a bottom dweller either. Still expecting a finish around 85 points. Will be lucky to make a playoff push.

Looks good. Rakell plays C?

Yeah, they aren’t playing that well recently. I think the question is can Krueger get them to turn it around, and playing better, sooner rather than later?

I think this is a spot on assessment

I am patient and I really like Botts, and I didn’t mean it as a criticism of him, but I’m not holding my breath or expecting a trade after X happens. I’ve heard that too many times in the past few months. Who knows when something is going to happen.

That math doesn’t add up, but Cozens is doing great. ?? He is on pace for 106 pts in 68 games, 1.56ppg

Trade deadline, UFAs, RFAs, training camp, Montour’s return, Sweden trip. Seems like there’s always some next hill that needs to be created before a trade can happen. I’ll be waiting patiently.

What was the reason?

https://www.sny.tv/islanders/news/robin-lehner-explains-what-happened-with-him-and-islanders/308698400 Lehner: "It not working out in Long Island had nothing to do with me. I never walked away from anything." "We were still pretty much all in with Long Island, and they walked away," Lehner said. "They didn't want to do anything. They walked away with another goalie." Read article for more details.

I’ve been “hoping” that Risto would play better for years. Suzuki is pretty good.

Pretty sure it was NY who declined to bring back Lehner more so than vice versa.

They don’t need to call him up or do anything that violates the CBA in order to have a player get on a plane and fly to Sweden. That’s my point. Thanks for the polite reply.

Brawndo was talking about Hammond who is going to Sweden, but hasn’t been called up to the Sabres, and how it’s surprising that they maybe didn’t do the same with an extra forward. They could have had someone like Wilson travel to Sweden, but not call them up to the Sabres unless needed, like they are doing with Hammond.

It’s my interpretation based on the majority of preseason predictions that I saw.

Sure, maybe it SHOULD be the expectation. But playoffs wasn’t the expectation of most fans.

Deficient for what? I think that’s the question. For a playoff team? For a cup contender? They have exceeded expectations so far. Most were pretty sure this was not a playoff team.

Islanders lost 3 of their first 4. Coyotes lost 3 of their first 4. Capitals had a stretch of losing 4 of 5. It happens. They do need to turn it around here soon.

They have been winning a lot. Is nothing but a 65+ win season acceptable? Just because Buffalo is now decent doesn’t mean they will win every game or won’t have rough patches. smh The Islanders are one hell of a good team, especially right now. Even the best teams in the league have all they can handle against them. They specialize is getting a lead and strangling the offense out of the game.

They aren’t playing so hot themselves.